Jewels of Opar

Note from the Author: I have never covered this plant before…

 

 

A good look at the ovate foliage and it's color. There are variegated versions of this plant.

Note the orange seed pod on the right.

A close up of the flowers and new seed pods.

The entire plant as seen in the test garden. It has overtaken the intended Zataar plant that is supposed to be there

 

Common Name: Jewels of Opar

 

Other Common Names: Flame Flower

 

Botanical Family: Talinaceae (The Talinum Family)

 

Botanical Latin Name: Talinum paniculatum

 

Description & Habitat: In the urban environment this plant may be found growing under the cover of shrub hedgerows and along roadsides or appearing in lawns or old garden beds. The leaves of Jewels of Opar are roughly ovate in shape and are borne in alternate arrangement on the plant. The foliage is also widely considered to be succulent or semi-succulent and has a rich medium green color with a pronounced central midrib. The flowers are tiny pink and bear five petals. The seed capsules of this plant can be orange, red, gold, brown or gray in color. This plant has a long bright orange colored taproot that can reach several feet across a hard surface to find soil. Plants may be up to five feet tall and have a three-foot spread and this plant is a hardy perennial in zone 8b.

 

Special Toxicity Note:  According to at least one credible source this plant may contain a small amount of Oxalic Acid in its foliage. This source goes on to state it gives a sour or tangy taste however most other sources indicate the flavor of this plants foliage is mild. It is unknown if this is just a trait of a specific population of plants or a normal thing.

 

When & What to Harvest: The foliage can be harvested as a leaf green and the flower stalks cut for fresh floral arrangements or dried in dried arrangements due to the brightly colored seed pods.

 

Related Plants: None are of note.

 

Recipe:  Since the foliage of this plant is used like spinach it can be concluded that it can be substituted in any spinach recipe.

 

Additional Information: (If applicable)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talinum_paniculatum

 

 

Where to get Seed or Bare Root Plants:

https://www.southernexposure.com/products/jewels-of-opar-fame-flower/

 

With all that garden goodness covered this is the part of the blog where I have to advertise for the Fayetteville City Market. Now I know you readers probably don’t much like advertisements, but my booth at the City Market helps to cover the costs of running the test garden and literally maintains the Research & Development budget that is used to bring you the information that has made up the backbone of this blog.  In addition to being able to process card payments we now take CashApp payments so your payment options for my product have tripled. With that said; if you want to get some GMO-free, Organic fruit, herbs, flowers and perennials, come on down to the Fayetteville City Market on 325 Maxwell Street in downtown Fayetteville between the hours of 9:00 am and 1:00 pm on Saturdays. Even in bad weather the market goes on though you might have to look for me under the ‘arches’ of the Transportation Museum’s front entryway.

 

 

Fresh Produce:

Blueberries, Rabbiteye

Figs, Magnolia

Peppers, Banana Drop Hybrid

 

Summer Vegetables:

Nightshade Greens, Gbognome

Nightshade Greens, West African Njama

Okra, Baby Bubba

Okra, Iraqi Bamia

Pepper, Ghost

Pepper, Serrano

Pepper, Hungarian Wax Banana

Pepper, Bull’s Horn

Pepper, Mad Hatter

Pepper, Purple Bell

Potato, Adirondack (Purple skin with blue-purple flesh)

Spinach, Egyptian

 

Herbs:

Basil, Holy

Basil, Sweet Genovese

Chives

Yarrow, Parker’s Gold

 

 

Flowers:

Flowering Tobacco

Hibiscus, Luna Red

Marigolds

 

Plants Coming Soon:

Green-Fruit Nightshade Greens

Rainbow Quinoa

 

How to stay in Contact with Us!

All you need to keep up with all our activities is to have a Nextdoor account and to look for the ‘Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville’ group and ask to join! You don’t have to live in Fayetteville to join us! Feel free to ask all your garden questions of our knowledgeable membership and post your cool garden pictures.

 

Sustainable Neighbors of Fayetteville

 

Also please take a gander at the YouTube version of this blog:

The Videos: Look Here

>Newest videos (1): Milk Thistle

 

Meetings are still going on! Our next (unofficial) meeting is July 12^th at the Fayetteville City Market at 325 Franklin Street between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm.